DNR to conduct 3 year study on northeastern Minnesota deer population
Published on Northern News Now: Jun. 3, 2024 at 3:17 PM CDT
DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – The Minnesota DNR is beginning a three-year research project in the northeastern area of the state to gather data on deer populations.
According to DNR officials, the study comes after Northland hunters reported lower deer harvests year after year.
The data can help better understand if deer densities differ between private and public lands. This could change the way antlerless tags are distributed in the future.
During the study, cameras will be placed on public and private property to gather data in deer permit areas 169, 176, 177, 178, 197, and 679 in portions of Cass, Beltrami, Itasca, Hubbard, and St. Louis counties.
Cameras will collect time-lapsed data from July to September and will be placed in different locations each year.
DNR researchers say they will contact landowners by mail for preselected locations in June to request access and install cameras on their property.
“Working with private landowners is an important part of this project,” said lead researcher Eric Michel. “We hope to use this new information to improve our understanding of deer populations in the forested region of the state.”
Due to the large amount of footage being collected in this study, the project will be using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) programs to help process the data.
Officials say this technology and methodology was used in prior studies in 2021 and 2023.
The final results of the study are expected in 2027.